Disappointing results from several companies, including TransAlta (TA.TO) and Finning International (FTT.TO), outweighed early benefits from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s commitment to keep U.S. interest rates low. [ID:nN23153536]

An unexpected drop in new U.S. home sales also underscored concerns about the shaky U.S. economic recovery, which helped to pull down the price of gold below $1,100 an ounce. Oil, however, was up on the day, above $80 a barrel, but the energy group stayed negative. [GOL/] [O/R]